"Do you remember the rumor about Keith Richards getting his blood changed? I thought it'd be a good idea because speed is habit forming, and I'd been doing it and drinking for over twenty years. If you have your blood changed, I'd suppose that there's nothing in it and that it's clean--- maybe like when I was a kid. Once the doctor saw what I'd done and the hours I keep, he told me to forget it: Pure blood will probably kill ya."--- Lemmy

Ozzy Osbourne once made a remark about Lemmy Kilmister. 

To paraphrase, it was to the effect that, for every bizarre, incredible, decadent story that he ( Ozzy ) had to tell about life on tour, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead had three. For the past thirty years, Motorhead has blessed generations of faithful believers with their relentless, unmatchable mission--- to churn out the fastest, loudest, and heaviest strain of Rock and Roll to be found around the world. While some of us may move in hardcore circles, or march to the beat of the metalhead, or proselytize to the younger generations about the halcyon days of Rock gone by--- Motorhead has maintained the allegiance of each for three decades. They have achieved this very hallowed and exceptionally rare status by never placing the chance to capitalize upon a trend above the fans who had supported them from the get go. Some of Lemmy's peers got perms. Some took to wearing spandex and lip gloss. Some donned the obligatory flannel shirt of the 90's to bolster sales. Some have recently "emerged" with a NU Metal slant to their sound.

"... you know I'm born to loose."

Motorhead remains Motorhead. No frills, no bulls*** posturing, no red carpets, no glitz, and no fancy Rock star allure. Lemmy Kilmister--- a living legend among any Rock icon you can think of--- still comes off as the kind of salt of the earth, blue collar guy you would find amidst the rough and tumble of your local pub.

Fans don't fail to notice, either--- especially this one--- and this lies at the heart of the very secret that eludes those who cannot understand why, when it comes to Motorhead, the fan loyalty to this band is appropriately unconditional and downright RABID.

1980 saw the unveiling of what many define as the release that forever cemented Motorhead's place in Rock's inscrutable history--- I refer to 1980's Ace of Spades. Graced by the golden touch of Vic Maile from the production side, Ace of Spades is designed to be played loud. Motorhead loud. The kind of loud that can cause environmental damage to whatever it comes into contact with. The reason for the need of such excessive volume? Despite the staggering catalogue of studio releases, Motorhead always was and always will be a live band. Those who own the records are fans--- those who have caught the show, however... become CONVERTS. Ace of Spades was engineered to capture--- onto what at the time was vinyl---  the sound, depth, and feel of a live Motorhead set. In typical-but-glorious Motorhead fashion, little time is wasted in outlining the mission statement. 

As the lights go up, the buzzing crunch of Lemmy's Rickenbacker bass motors away just before the band comes out with both pistols blazing--- and this will be the last chance you'll have to come up for air, until the final, blistering measure of "The Hammer" comes crashing down--- eleven songs later. "Ace of Spades" (the song) intense and broad appeal to fans from every walk of heavy music is explained by its formulae: heavy metal sound, raw punk energy, and a Rock n' Roll blueprint. Be sure to place emphasis on "Rock n' Roll blueprint", because that is the touchstone which defines who Motorhead really are. 

"... and gamblin's for fools."

Revel in the booming boogie sleaze on tracks like "Fast and Loose", "Jailbait", "Dance", and the thuddy, solo-laden "The Chase is Better Than the Catch". 

Relish the uncompromising, ecstatic electricity on tracks like "Love Me Like a Reptile", "Live to Win", "Shoot  You in the Back", "(We Are) The Road Crew", and "Bite the Bullet".

... feel your scalp loosen upon the roof of your skull as "The Hammer" rages at full throttle.

Make no mistake about the other players' contribution to this recording, either. Phil Taylor's drumming sounds off like a squadron of Harley Davidsons--- what I call a hard, "four on the floor" style---  an arm-heavy mix of Rock and Blues, with chugging fills/fast rolls that follow the third count. For those with an ear for the guitar solo---  the licks laid out by Fast Eddie Clarke on Ace of Spades contain some of the best work that he did with the band. With a feel that effortlessly blends down and dirty ease with over-the-top bombast, it should take the listener all of ONE SPIN of Ace of Spades to understand why Motorhead was universally regarded as one of the standard-bearers for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal invasion.  I unabashedly write these words without reservation: Fast Eddie Clarke is one of the best kept secrets among those who sometimes just love nothing more than to hear a frenzied, roof-lifting guitar solo, that sounds out in nothing but honest to goodness Rock n' Roll. 

"... but that's the way I like it baby, I don't wanna live forever!"

For me, there are times when I feel this is the closest my ears can get to heaven.

Nothing has yet put the brakes on Lemmy Kilmister and his present bandmates. Phillip Campbell and his guitar have shared the stage with Lemmy for 21 years now, and the addition of Mikkey Dee behind the drum kit, makes for as potent a line-up as Motorhead has EVER boasted.

Take it from someone who witnessed said potency, first-hand, at the Worcester Palladium on March 11th. I've still got the ring in my ears and the sore throat to prove it--- but don't simply take my word for it--- throw a little money down, get out there, and experience the live energy of a lifetime. Not only can Lemmy and company still call down the fire, but they can call it down more forcefully than peers less than half of their age can. You won't believe your ears.

As Lemmy casually stated to the rowdy mob in Worcester: "G'd evening... we're Motorhead. We play Rock n' Roll."

And to any rabid Motorfans who might be reading this: SEE YOU AT THE NEXT SHOW. MOTORHEAD!

Ace of Spades--- a classic, dangerous, legendary recording--- burned to tape by a classic, dangerous, legendary band.

Until next month... this is DS, signing off.

DS
 

Everyone remembers their first time. The youthful curiosity answered with something way beyond your imagination.  The same can be said of the first discovery of certain music. While some music simply floats by and may make an impression, only selected music has the power to hit you over the head like a ton of bricks and hammer it's way into your consciences.  Such was my experience with Ace of Spades. 

A few moons have revolved since that warm spring night; I was just a wee bit kid hanging with my older friends at "The Tree", a large tree in middle of a local dry riverbed where someone had built stone benches around a fire pit. It was one of the favored places to hang out and party among my heavy metal brethren.  

We were well into our first 12-pack of the night, the fire was burning bright and the Judas Priest cassette had just screamed it's last note out of the resident "boom box".  One of my friends bent over to switch the tape over when another friend said, "hey, put this in."  Then it happened, a glorious thunder exploded out of the speakers, a sound like none other I had heard before. Born again Christians talk about having a spiritual awakening and I always liken that experience to the transformation that overcame me when I heard "Ace of Spades" pounding out of that boom box. "This is it! I've found it!" for Motorhead is not merely a heavy rock band, they have a force and power all their own. Those that get it, get it in a big way. Those that do not, scratch their heads in bewilderment. But Motorhead really is the alpha and omega of heavy rock. It's all there. The power, the intensity, the rawness, the extreme emotion, the blood boiling majesty that is Lemmy.  While other bands have carefully crafted and plotted their career with an eye towards success, Motorhead has always been and always will be Motorhead. No trend can make them stray from their path; no label can convince them to change. Motorhead is one of the few bands that you can look upon and say honestly you know what you are gonna get when you put on any of their albums. And unlike some of their contemporaries where a signature sound may become redundant, there is always a vitality to Motorhead's songs. It doesn't matter if you are listening to Ace of Spades or Inferno, Motorhead's music has a jaw breaking honesty about it and their influence on the hard rock world is immeasurable.  

For many that influence started with Ace of Spades, an album that not only put Motorhead into the UK Top 5 (#4) but also did it without compromise and it hammered their name into the history books as a band to be reckoned with. Ace of Spades is much more than an album and a glimpse at a band at a certain period in time, it is really a mission statement for Motorhead and all heavy rock bands that came after, a no-holds-barred testament to the power of rock and roll and an uncompromising commitment to honest to Lemmy ass kicking music.  

I know my words may sound over the top but it is honestly how I feel about this band and this album and that spark was ignited on that warm spring night so long ago and hasn't diminished since. Unless you have been there, you wouldn't understand. 

I know I'm not alone is seeing that Motorhead are much more than just a hard rock band. Look at DeadSun's testimony. Look at the quip in the film "Airheads," when one character asked who would win in a fight between God and Lemmy, it wasn't just tongue in cheek when the response was that it was a trick question because "Lemmy is God!" A couple years ago, I was outside the Cat Club in Hollywood talking to punk icon Texas Terry and she said something about Lemmy being the Godfather of metal.  I responded, "I think Ozzy is considered by most as the Godfather of metal." Without missing a beat, Terry shot back, "Ozzy may be the Godfather, but Lemmy is God!"   

However, one of the biggest examples of how much Motorhead stands out from the pack came on September 1st, 2003 when I attended their induction into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood. 

Eric Singer did the honors of inducting Motorhead, but it was legendary disc jockey Jim Ladd that was given the task of reading a commendation from the mayor of Los Angeles. Among the mayor's carefully selected words, he let slip the true reason that Motorhead are legends when he honored them for their "balls out" rock & roll. Ladd joked about hearing a politician says "balls out" but it was the truth. The real telling moment came when Lemmy stepped  forward with his partners in crime to immortalize his handprint into cement. Phil and Mikkey's palms went face down like every other handprint on the Rock Walk but Lemmy went balls out and gave the Rock Walk his middle finger. That's Motorhead right there! Giving the world the finger and continuing to kick everyone's ass year by year, tour by tour, album by album.  Ace of Spades is just one small part of the ass kicking but a significant part. 

Nothing I can say about this album specifically can do it the justice it deserves. You will have to listen to it yourself. If this were a perfect world, we would look upon the top selling albums of all time and Ace of Spades would stand proudly at the top above the Eagles and Jacko. But we don't live in a perfect world and if you are a serious rock fan and don't have this album already, your collection has a big gapping hole in it. So go right now and get this album, you won't regret it and then you will understand the meaning behind one of the worst kept secrets in rock n roll- LEMMY IS GOD!
 

Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Release Date: November 8, 1980
 

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